USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 22
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GREENE & RULISON, dealers in clothing, gents' furnishing goods, etc., commenced business in Lapeer in 1880. The firm is composed of Edward C. Greene, and Charles W. Rulison. They also have a branch store at St. Louis, Mich .- EDWARD C. GREENE was born in 1849, at Townsend, Middlesex County, Mass. When very young his parents removed to Red Creek, Wayne County, N. Y. He was educated in the academy at that place. He came West to West Bloomfield, Oakland County, Mich., in 1867. He taught school
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one term and then went into the employ of an auction and commis- sion firm at Pontiac. In 1869 he went to Flint, and was in the employ of William L. Smith & Co., Smith & Bridgeman, and N. Davidson, until 1877. In that year he came to Lapeer as manager for a branch store belonging to Mr. Davidson. In 1880 he bought out that gentleman and the firm of Greene & Rulison was organ- ized. He was married in 1875 to Carrie E. Fairbank of Flint. She died in 1882. Two children survive her .- CHARLES W. RULISON, the other member of the firm, was born in Jefferson County., N. Y., in 1849. His parents came to Flint, Mich., in 1849. He was educated in the schools of that city, and had one term at the Michigan University. In 1880 came to Lapeer and entered into business as a partner of E .C. Greene. Married in 1876 to Miss Ella Lee, of Syracuse, N. Y. They have one child, a daughter.
YORK T. HIGLEY is a native of Vermont, and was born at Shoreham, Addison County, in 1826. His parents came to Lapeer County in 1833, bought land on what is now Lapeer Township, and cleared up a farm. The son, York T., has been a farmer all his days and is now living on the land purchased from the United States government by his father. Has held office as a drain com- missioner and justice of the peace. Married Cornelia D. Strong, a native of Massachusetts, but a resident of Lapeer County, at the time of her marriage, which took place in 1861. They have a family of six children living.
WILLIAM R. WADSWORTH Was born March 12, 1827, in Butler, Wayne County, N. Y. Brought up on a farm in the town of Wolcott. in the same county, and followed that pursuit until 1865. In 1864 came West to Lapeer County, locating in Oregon Township, where he farmed it for about a year, and then went to work as a carpenter and a joiner. Continued at that until 1873 when he commenced selling fruit and ornamental trees. He now represents the Geneva, New York, nurseries and deals in American and imported fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, roses, grape-vines and small fruits. Resi- dence on Bentley Street. Was married December 22, 1853, and has four sons, all of whom live in Lapeer.
RENSSELAER R. TENNANT was born in 1826, at Leroy, Genesee County, N. Y. His youth was passed on a farm and his education received in the district schools. In 1840 he went to Herkimer County, N. Y., and lived on his uncle's farm for eight years. In 1848 he went to Orleans County, and kept a hotel for twelve years. From 1848 to 1877 was in the hotel business in Brockport, Oak Orchard, and Saratoga, N. Y. In 1877 he came to Lapeer. For a time he kept the Park Hotel, near the Grand Trunk Railway Depot. In 1882 leased the Donaldson House and changed the name to Tennant House. He was married in 1850 to Miss Eliza Young, of Herkimer County, N. Y. They have one child, a daughter.
MARTIN J.HOWARD was born in the town of Jefferson, Schoharie County, N, Y., in 1826. In 1859 went West to Wisconsin, where he was a farmer. In 1870 came to Lapeer City, where he is now in the undertaking business. Was married in 1856 to Miss Catherine McArthur of New York.
ALBERT L. GREGORY was born in 1837 at Hunt's Hollow, near Nunda, Livingston County, N. Y. Learned the trade of jeweler and watchmaker at Rushford, N. Y. Was in business at Cuba in the same State in 1861. Came to Michigan in 1867. Was at Flint for a time, and in 1868 removed to Lapeer, where he opened a watch, clock and jewelry establishment. Married to Miss Ellen C. Osborne of Rushford, N. Y. They have one child living.
ALEXANDER McLENNAN Was born in Kintail, Rosshire, Scotland, in 1832. Was educated at the schools in that place, also on the Island of North Uist. Went to the University of Edinburgh in 1850.
Was there two and a half years. Came to the United States in 1852. Lived for at time at St. Clair, Mich. After that taught school in Canada a few months, and then went to Detroit, where he was in the employ of T. & J. Hinchman, dealers in drugs, groceries, etc. Was in a grocery business in Pontiac for a time. In 1856 came to Lapeer and engaged in general mercantile business. Was mayor of Lapeer in 1879-'80. Has also been president of the school board and member of the same a number of terms. Married to Rebecca Haddrill, a native of England, but at the time of her marriage a resident of Orion, Oakland County, in 1856. They have five children living.
BENEZETT A. TUTTLE was born in 1851, in the township of Almont, Lapeer County, Mich. Was educated in the common schools of the county, and graduated at Goldsmith's Commercial College in Detroit. In 1871 went into the employ of Tuttle & Gregory. In 1878 his father, who was the senior member of the firm, bought out Mr. Gregory's interest, and since that time the son has been manager of the retail lumber business. Has held the office of city collector for Lapeer, and in 1880-'81 Was an alderman. In 1883 was again elected. Marriedin 1875 to Miss Ellen Bennett, from near Glen's Falls, N. Y., by whom he has one child, a daughter.
COLUMBUS TUTTLE was born in 1829, in Cortland County, N. Y. His parents settled in 1836, in the township of Ray, Macomb County, Mich. The son learned the trade of a carpenter, which his father followed. In 1853 he came to Lapeer County. Re- mained for a time in Almont, and then came to Lapeer. Since he has lived in this city he has been in the planing-mill and mercantile business. Was at one time in partnership with George B. Gregory. Served for a number of months in 1864-'65 on a United States gunboat, on the Mississippi River. Has been an alderman several terms. In 1849 was married to Miss Eunice Hough of Connecticut. They have had six children, four of whom are living.
WILLIAM F. DALEY is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., having been born in the town of Fabius in 1832. His parents came to Lapeer Township in 1838. His education was acquired in the district schools and at the Rochester academy in Oakland County. In 1854 he commenced teaching and for six years taught township schools. He then farmed in Lapeer Township until 1873, when he became a resident of Lapeer City, and since that time has been in the fire and life insurance business. Has been an alderman, mem - ber of the city school board, and also held some township offices. Married Miss Harriet A. Tripp of Northeast, Cha itauqua County, N. Y. They have one child, a daughter.
ESLI R. REDFIELD was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in 1832. Came to Oakland County in 1844 with his parents. Learned the painters' trade. Enlisted in 1861 in the Tenth Regiment Michigan Infantry, and remained in the service until the close of the war. Went in as a sergeant and came out as a captain. Re- turned to Oakland County after the end of the war. Remained there unti' 1879, during which time he' was supervisor for Oakland Township six years. While in that county he was a farmer, but on removing to Lapeer in 1879, went into the flour-mill business. In April, 1883, he was elected supervisor for the Second District of Lapeer City. He was married in 1866 to Miss Sarah M. Beebe of Monroe County, N. Y. They have three children.
CHARLES L. THATCHER was born in Kendall, Orleans County, N. Y., in 1836. His parents came West in 1851,and located on a farm in Bloomfield, Oakland County, Mich. He lived there until 1853, when he went to Pontiac and remained until 1872, part of the time in business for himself. That year he came to Lapeer and opened a book, news and stationery establishment. He has now, 1883, two stores on Nepessing Avenue, one of which would be a
JAMES TURRILL.
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credit to a much larger place than Lapeer. Was married in 1864 to Miss Sophia G. Cook of Oneida County, N. Y. They have one child, a son.
GEORGE H. CARY was born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1854. From there his parents removed to Hastings, Minn. In 1870 he was in the employ of the Grand Trunk Railway Co., as cashier in the gen- eral office at Port Huron, Mich., where he remained until 1874. He then took a position as station master at Imlay City, Lapeer County. In 1880 he came to Lapeer City as general ticket and freight agent for the same company. Was married in 1877 to Miss Lillie B. Mark of Imlay City. They have a son and daughter. He owns a residence on the corner of Church and Franklin Avenues.
JOHN O. SMITH was born in the city of Norwich, England, in 1825. His parents came to Canada in 1831, where they lived for two years at Montreal. They afterward lived in Toronto and Chatham, also at Buffalo, N. Y. The father was a cabinet-maker, and the son learned the same trade. Lived for a number of years at Mineral Point, Watertown and other places in Wisconsin. Some of the time in trade for himself and at other times working at his trade. He came to Lapeer in 1858, and until 1870 worked at paint- ing and cabinet making. Went into the furniture trade then, and carries one of the largest and finest stocks in the city. In 1862 he enlisted in the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics and served until the end of the war. Married to Mary C. Lovejoy, of New York State, in 1846. They have five children.
JOHN A. BUERGER was born in 1827 in Bavaria, Germany, and came to the United States in 1850. Lived for a number of years in East Saginaw and Frankenmuth, Saginaw County, Mich., during which he was engaged in the brewing business. In 1864 he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Regiment Michigan Infantry. Served until ' the rebellion was crushed. Ranked as a first lieutenant when mus- tered out. Came to Lapeer in 1866 and built the "City Brewery," and the "Farmer's Home" hotel. Among beer drinkers the beer made at his brewery is considered a very good article. He has had six children, by Anna M. Schelhas, a native of Saxony, Ger- many, to whom he was married in 1853.
ARTHUR J. GRAY was born in Oregon Township, Lapeer County, in 1855. His father was one of the first settlers in that township. He has been engaged for a number of years in mercantile business. Is a member of the firm of J. H. Gray & Son, dealers in groceries, provisions, boots, shoes, flour, feed, &c. Was married March 28, 1875, to Eliza Storey, of Stratford, Ont.
CHARLES J. YORKER, a farmer, was born in Lennox, Madison County, N. Y., in 1827, and was brought up on a farm. Came to Michigan in 1840. Worked for the late E. J. White, of Lapeer, two years and then went to the Upper Peninsula, living at Eagle River, Copper Harbor, &c. Came back to Lapeer in 1863. While at Eagle River, held the offices of justice of the peace, town clerk, con- stable, &c. In 1849 was married to Mary G. Cion, a native of Germany, from near Coblentz. They have a family of ten children.
CHARLES L. YORKER, the son of the foregoing, was born at Eagle River in 1854. In 1864 came to Lapeer and was on his father's farm until 1878. Educated at the Lapeer high school. Is now a dealer in organs, &c.
ISAAC I. VOORHIES was born in Virginia in 1799; left his native State with his parents in 1804, settling in Seneca County, N. Y., where he remained until 1818; then went to Riga, N. Y., near Rochester, remaining about six years; then came to Michigan; took . up from government 240 acres of land near Pontiac; improved the same; sold it, moved into the city of Pontiac; lived about five years, then came to Lapeer in 1867, where he has since lived; was married in 1826 to Ann Merlin, of N. Y., who died in 1864; was married second time, 1867, to Jane E. Hovey, of Pontiac, Mich. When Mr.
Voorhies came to this State, there were only about thirty houses in the city of Pontiac. Mr. Voorhies is one of a family of sixteen children, eleven of whom lived to adult age; he is now the only surviving one of the family.
ALEXANDER W. COREY was born in Tioga County, Pa., in the year 1830, where he lived until the year 1849, when he came with his parents to Michigan, stopped a short time in Troy, Oakland County, then came to Lapeer, stayed a short time in the village of Lapeer, there being but two or three houses in this place at that time. His father then took up land three miles south of said place which he lived on until his death, which occurred in the year 1868. This farm is still in possession of the family. Mr. A. W. Corey lived on the farm until 1880, when he moved to Lapeer City and took charge of the gunsmith business located on Saginaw Street, a business he has been interested in about eight years. Was married in 1867 to Deborah R. Converse, of this city; has one daughter.
JAMES A. HUNGERFORD, manufacturer of all kinds of wagons, carriages, sleighs, cutters, &c .; also keeps for sale wagons and car- riages of other manufacturers and does a general blacksmith busi- ness; shop is located on Saginaw Street. Was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., in 1835, where he lived until eighteen years of age, when he came to Lapeer and established himself in his present business with his father and continued about five years, when his father retired and he took whole charge of the business, and has continued ever since. Went into the war as member of regimental band for Ninth Cavalry; remained four months; after about one year enlisted in the Second Brigade band and served until the close of the war. Was married in 1864 to Adeline Gummerson, of Lapeer City; she was born in Canada.
EDWARD D. SCULLEY, of the firm of Sculley & Merson, black- smiths, was born in what is now the township of Mayfield, Lapeer County, Mich., in the year 1843, and lived on a farm in the same place with his parents until 1861, then came to Lapeer, learned the trade of blacksmith, commencing with a man by the name of Wood; worked afterward with a Mr. Bristol; was last in the employ of J. A. Hungerford. In 1872 commenced business for himself with a Mr. Quinn for two and one-half years; then carried on business alone for eight years. In September, 1881, organized the present com- pany. Owns the homestead bought by his father from government under the administration of Van Buren, now consisting of 100 acres on section 27, Mayfield. His father's name was Patrick Sculley; was born in Ireland; was one of the first settlers of Lapeer County. E. D. Sculley was married in 1867, to Helen R. Bushnell, of Lapeer; has two children, a son and a daughter.
IRA GREEN, proprietor of Lapeer woolen mills, was born in Massachusetts in 1832; came when quite young to the State of New York, where he remained twenty years; came to Michigan in 1853; settled in Dexter; remained two years; was two years in Ann Arbor; was three years in Jonesville, two years in Ypsilanti. Has been engaged from boyhood in the woolen business. At Ypsilanti, had charge of the Huron River mills for the firm of Wells & Bradley. In 1867 came to Lapeer, bought an interest in the woolen mills at this place, was associated with Mr. Leavenworth; the firm name was Leavenworthi & Green; the mill burned in 1868, then Mr. Green built a new mill and had M. J. Mills as a partner, which con . tinued three years, then Mr. G. Rood bought J. Mills' interest, then after one year Mr. Green went out, and shortly after the mill burned, then Mr. Green, in 1874, built the mill he now occupies, and has been doing a general custom business. Enlisted in 1861 in the Eighth Michigan Infantry; served two years and a half; was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness by a rifle ball, through the left lung; has never fully recovered from the wound. Was married in 1852 to Caroline Randall, who died in 1856; was married
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the second time, to Susan S. Fish; has eight children, six sons and two daughters.
JOEL M. PALMER was born in Vermont in the year 1804. Went with his parents to Pennsylvania when twelve years of age. Two years after went to Williamsport, Pa .; stayed six years; then went to Ohio, where he was engaged as cattle drover for several years, then came to Michigan in 1832. Met A. N. Hart in Detroit, came with him to Lapeer, worked for A. N. Hart six years, then settled on a farm on which he lived until his death and his widow still lives on the same farm. Was married in 1838 to Diantha Merlin, daughter of Samuel Merlin, of this county; his wife died in 1849; was mar- ried again same year to Mrs. Cady, whose maiden name was Susan Merritt, of Hillsdale, Columbia County, N. Y. Mr. Palmer chopped the first acre of land chopped in Lapeer County; the same was the site of the house of A. N. Hart.
CALVIN P. THOMAS was born in the town of Pompey, Onon- daga County, N. Y., in 1834; went with his parents to Wyoming County, N. Y., in 1844; came to Michigan with his parents in 1847; settled in Metamora, Lapeer County. He attended school at Romeo; studied law with John M. Goot, of Ann Arbor, for one year; was then admitted to practice. Commenced the practice of law, at La- peer, in 1864. Was married in 1857 to Adeline E. Sherman, of Lapeer County. Has four children, three sons and one daughter.
JOHN J. WATKINS was born in New York City in 1822, where, after receiving his education, he taught school from the age of four- teen till twenty-two years of age, when in 1844 he came to Michi- gan. After stopping a short time in Oakland County and a year and a half in Macomb County, he came to what is now the village of Hadley, Lapeer County, and established a store-the first in the place-and an ashery and pearling works. He remained there about five years, when he sold out and bought a farm in the town- ship of Elba, which he still owns. After living on the farm five years he removed to Lapeer City and engaged in keeping books for the Harts. In 1854 he commenced business again for himself, do- ing a general mercantile and lumber trade, which he continued an- other five years, when he went to the township of Elba and built a grist and saw-mill, and purchased a tract of land, the greater part of which he still owns. He carried on business there up to 1863, when he retired. He was married in 1843 to Miss Anna E. Scott, of New York City, and has seven children, three sons and four daughters. Two of the sons are living in Dakota, and the other on the farm mentioned in Hadley. Mr. Watkins was one of the first organizers of the Republican party in Lapeer County, and about the year 1855 helped to start the first Republican paper.
FREDERICK L. HENDERSON was born in the township of Lapeer, Lapeer County, Mich., in 1842, and is by occupation a carpenter and joiner. He worked at his trade in Lapeer several years, and in 1864 enlisted in the First Michigan Cavalry, serving several months after the close of the war. He was with his regiment in the South and East, and after the war was stationed at Salt Lake City. In 1874 he opened a grocery store and restaurant in Lapeer City, to which he added a bakery in 1883. He married Miss Maggie Cassidy, a native of Canada, in 1873, and has three children.
A. W. ABBOTT (deceased) was born in Leveret, Conn., in 1808, where he lived until twenty one years of age. He learned the tan- ner and currier's trade, which he worked at one year in Connecticut and four years in Ohio. In June, 1833, he came to Lapeer and took up 120 acres of government land, to which he afterward added forty acres, upon which his family still resides. After coming to Lapeer, he for a time worked at his trade, but gave more of his time to shoemaking, being the first to engage in that trade in this sec- tion. He was married in 1836 to Miss Martha L. White, of South Hadley, Mass., at Lapeer, theirs being among the first weddings
celebrated in the vicinity. His death occurred in 1873; his widow, two sons and two daughters survive him.
CHESTER G. WHITE was born in Lapeer in 1845. After attend- ing the schools of the place, and taking a commercial course in De- troit, he followed farming for a time, and in 1869 took a position in the banking house of White & Bro,, with whom he continued two years, when it was merged in the First National Bank, and he be- came its cashier, which position he has since retained. He was married in 1867 to Miss Lydia Pike, of Fort Edward, N. Y., and has two children, a son and daughter. Mr. White was mayor of Lapeer City in 1877 and 1878.
ENOCH J. WHITE (deceased) was born in South Hadley, Mass., in 1814, and came to Lapeer County in 1833, and was for several years the government surveyor, and for a time a civil engineer in the employ of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad. In 1840 he engaged with his brother, Phineas White, in the hotel business in Lapeer, which they continued until 1870. In 1856 he engaged in banking with Mr. Loomis, under the firm name of White & Loomis, which was changed on the death of Mr. Loomis to E. J. White & Bro., and subsequently was merged in the First National Bank of Lapeer. Mr. White was twice married, first to Miss Eliz- abeth W. Gaylord, of Old Hadley, Mass., and second to Miss Hannah Rood, who with seven children still survives him. His death occurred in May, 1878.
ROGER T. WALKER was born in the city of Detroit in 1841, and came with his parents to Lapeer in 1844. They located on a farm four and one-half miles south of Lapeer City, where he remained until twenty-two years of age, when he purchased a farm in the vicinity, upon which he resided up to 1873, when he sold out and moved into Lapeer City. He then engaged in the lumbering, furniture, and foundry business, and at present is sole proprietor of + an extensive saw-mill and bending works located on Saginaw Street, and owns an interest in the foundry and furniture factory carried on under the firm name of Varnum & Walker. Mr. Walker was married in 1863 to Miss Harriet L. Banghart, of Almont, Lapeer County, whose parents were among the first settlers there. They have three children, two sons and a daughter.
GEORGE L. SMITH was born in Camden, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1818, and in 1836 went to Lorain County, Ohio, and in 1840 came to Lapeer County, Mich. Soon thereafter he purchased forty acres of new land in the township of Mayfield, and for a few years rented a farm. He then exchanged the forty acres for eighty acres in the township of Oregon, upon which he resided up to 1865, when he sold out and bought a farm in Lapeer City, where he has since resided. He enlisted in the fall of 1862 in the First Michigan En- gineers and Mechanics, but on account of sickness was discharged and sent home about six months thereafter. In 1843 he was mar- ried to Miss Mary T. Simms, who died in 1844, leaving one child. He was a second time married, in 1845, to Miss Harriet M. Hughson, who died about 1864, leaving three children, and was a third time married, to his present wife, Mrs. Levi Smith, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Wrigglesworth, of English birth, and by whom he has three children.
ROBERT L. TAYLOR was born in Almont, Lapeer County, Mich., where he attended the common schools. In 1862 he entered the University of Michigan and continued his studies in the literary department three years. He then engaged in mercantile business about two and one-half years, when he returned to Ann Arbor and studied law one year, and in the fall of 1869 was admitted to the bar at Pontiac, before Judge Dewey. He practiced law in Almont till 1873, was elected register of deeds in the fall of 1872, and the following year moved to Lapeer City. He was re-elected in 1874, serving two terms, and has since given his attention to the practice
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of his profession. In 1880 was elected prosecuting attorney, and served one term, declining a second nomination. He was married in 1866 to Miss Margaret J. Birrell, of Detroit, formerly of Lenawee County, Mich. Mr. Taylor also held the office of supervisor in La- peer City, one year, and was a justice of the peace four years.
STEPHEN V. GATES was born in Ontario County, N. Y., August 3, 1835, and came to Lapeer with his parents in 1837. His father, Ralph Gates, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., October 19, 1791, and June 27, 1823, married Letty Van Gelder, who was born in Somerset, N. Y., April 14, 1798. Soon after his arrival in Lapeer his father engaged in shoemaking, and established a tannery, con- ducting both lines of business for several years. The subject of this sketch continued with him and became proficient as a tanner and currier, and shoemaker, following the latter trade up to the present time. During the late war he went into the army as a member of the Ninth Cavalry band, and remained four months, when he came home, and a year later enlisted in the Second Brigade band, remaining until the close of the war. He was married in 1876 to Miss Nancy R. Hays, of Lapeer City, who was born in Sterling, Ont., October 23, 1852, and has one son, who was born June 30, 1880. His residence and shop are on Saginaw Street.
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